Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 512

Dr. Ryan had an air of realization. "Just a child of three, no matter how clever, soon he'll be under my control."

As Florence, supported by Myra, slowly sat up, her pale lips curved into a faint smile. "I have no doubts about your hypnotism skills. When the time comes, perform a brain surgery on him, dumb him down, and turn him into my little toy!" Dr. Ryan didn't respond.

Truth be told, besides being exceptionally bright, Sammy was also incredibly endearing. In the initial days of confinement under Dr. Ryan's care, the boy nearly starved, yet he showed remarkable intuition and even displayed a knack for medicine that belied his young age. Dr. Ryan had a soft spot for the intelligent, especially those who were sharp from a young age. And the kid had a way with words that charmed him. Lately, he found it harder and harder to lay a hand on him.

"Dr. Ryan, do you have any objections to my decision?" Florence noticed his brief silence and glanced at him with her doe eyes.

"None, none at all!"

Dr. Ryan quickly denied, looking away. "Everything as Ms. Sheldon wishes. I won't let the kid have an easy time. Turning him into a fool is just a matter of surgery!"

Internally, Dr. Ryan felt it was a pity.

Florence suppressed her smile, twirling a handkerchief between her fingertips, and instructed him further, "This vial of spinal fluid must be kept a secret for me. Until I decide to donate it to Natalie, no one must know of its existence!"

Dr. Ryan replied, "Understood."

Myra frowned slightly. "Ms. Sheldon, Dr. Ryan was seen at the Sheldon Mansion today. You mentioned Ludwik might have people tailing you. Could he discover Dr. Ryan?"

Florence squinted her eyes, already having a plan in mind, and chuckled. "Dr. Ryan has been affiliated with the Emperor City Hospital for years, and he used to be my go-to doctor not so long ago. Ludwik has only been in Emperor City for a short while. Even if he had ways to uncover everything, he couldn't possibly know that Dr. Ryan is now working in my lab."

Myra thought about it and agreed.

Florence reminded Dr. Ryan again, "Keep up the facade of being a hospital doctor. If anyone investigates you in the coming days, just keep your cool. And don't visit the kid these next few days."

Dr. Ryan nodded.

Florence rubbed her temples. "After extracting my spinal fluid, how long before I recover? Prescribe me some supplements, and something to promote ovulation as well. I'm planning on getting pregnant soon and can't afford to let my health drag me down."

Dr. Ryan paused, then understood why Ms. Sheldon was in such a rush to extract her spinal fluid. He quickly wrote down a prescription and left the Sheldon Mansion under Myra's cover.

Meanwhile, Florence had just lain down on her bed, feeling a bit sore from the anesthesia, when her phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, her expression darkened momentarily before she answered coldly, "Hello?"

"Florence, thanks to your blessing, I've successfully returned to Emperor City."

The voice on the other end was female, tinged with amusement. "The Bartels family still remembers your favor. If there's anything you need my help with, just say the word."

Florence narrowed her eyes, sensing this woman could be trouble.

---

The next morning brought shocking news to Whitney's hospital room, waking her from her slumber.

"Whitney, yesterday afternoon, your Uncle Hugh went to the Sheldon Group. With your father incapacitated, Uncle Hugh has temporarily taken over the company's affairs. I think our grandparents made a reasonable decision. But the unexpected twist happened at this morning's shareholder meeting.

"Uncle Hugh, through the shareholder meeting, proposed that Florence join the Sheldon Group. With her 12% share of the company, he announced her as the successor. And with Hugh and several key shareholders in support, and Holly persuading on the side, most shareholders agreed!"

Whitney's calm demeanor vanished, her breathing became erratic.

Sandy was indignant. "Do you know what this means? From today, Florence becomes the heir to the Sheldon Group, the future CEO! I can't figure it out. Even though Uncle Hugh has always been kind to Florence, why would he help Florence and her mother secure a position in the Sheldon Group at the expense of his own interests? What's in it for him?"

Whitney's brows furrowed, her stomach churning with more intensity. Sandy's question echoed her own.

She suddenly focused. "Have you not said more than once that Hugh was exceptionally good to Florence, ever since they were children?"

Sandy recalled. "Out of all the nieces, Uncle Hugh always favored Florence, right from their childhood."

With her father down, Whitney couldn't believe Hugh had no ambitions. With such a vast empire as the Sheldon Group at stake, didn't he want a piece? Now was the perfect opportunity to push Holly and her daughter out! Yet, he immediately propped up Florence, declaring her the successor, even securing Jared's approval. He, along with Holly and Florence... they seemed more like a family.

A family?

Whitney was startled by the speculation. But apart from this possibility, there was no reason for Hugh to hold Florence so close to his heart. Additionally, she had witnessed an odd tension between Holly and Hugh just the day before.

Whitney's face turned ghostly pale. If this was true, how many years had Holly been plotting? Deceiving her father, allowing Hudson to live in a grand illusion for over two decades!

In the midst of a family betrayal that seemed ripped straight from a prime-time drama, the Sheldon legacy was teetering on the brink of collapse. Whitney Sheldon found herself ousted from her position at the heart of the Sheldon Group, powerless to protect her father now lying comatose in a hospital bed. Her cousins, Jared and Emma, remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around them, manipulated by those they trusted most.

Whitney felt a mix of fear and loathing. Betrayed and sidelined, she was overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness that brought tears to her eyes.

"Sandy, I know you're furious. Uncle Jack can't speak up to stop Uncle Hugh from wreaking havoc in the company under Florence's influence. But don't let this anger eat you up," Sandy said, noticing Whitney clutch her stomach in pain, her body curling from the distress. "It's not anger. It's sorrow for my dad," Whitney gasped, having felt dazed and disoriented since the previous night.

Pulling the covers aside, she swung her legs off the bed. "I need to see my dad. Is he well taken care of?"

Sandy nodded. "I checked on Uncle Jack when I arrived. He's in the ICU, guarded by a row of bodyguards. Even Aunt Linda was denied entry last night. She left in a huff and hasn't returned."

That was a relief, at least. Ensuring her father's safety was paramount.

Without wasting another moment, Whitney headed for the door. There, she encountered a towering figure.

Dressed in a sharp black suit that accentuated his tall, athletic build, Ludwik stood solemn and imposing. His outfit was meticulously put together, from the crisply ironed white shirt up to the neatly tied black tie, exuding an aura of seriousness.

Despite his rush to get there, his stride was calm and purposeful. Yet, beneath his handsome features, there was a coldness, and the bloodshot eyes hinted at his own unrest.

As their gazes met, Whitney's heartache was palpable, prompting her to avert her eyes in an attempt to shield herself from further pain.

Ludwik, with a deep sense of concern masked by his stoic exterior, stepped closer, holding a thermos. "I brought you some soup. Are you hungry? Please, have some," he offered, his voice a comforting timbre amidst the turmoil.

But Whitney couldn't bear to face him, her emotions a whirlwind of pain and betrayal.

"Sandy, please ask him to leave," Whitney pleaded, turning her back to them both.

Ludwik, unfazed by her rejection, gave Sandy a look that silently conveyed she was the one who should leave. And leave she did, unable to withstand the intensity of Ludwik's presence.